JOHOR BARU: A former shipping mechanic has been charged at the Sessions Court here with four counts of raping, recording a sexual act, sexual assault and possession of child pornography allegedly involving his own niece some five years ago.

The 41-year-old father-of-three claimed trial to all four charges against him after they were read out to him before judge VM Mabel Sheela here on Tuesday (June 27).

In the first charge, the accused allegedly raped the victim, who was then seven years old, at a house in Jalan Rawa 1 in Taman Perling here at around 1.30am on Aug 1, 2018.

He was charged under Section 376(2)(e) of the Penal Code, which carries not more than 30 years' imprisonment and whipping upon conviction.

The accused also pleaded not guilty to making child pornography involving the victim by recording the act on video at the same place and time.

He was charged under Section 5 of the Sexual Offences Against Children Act 2017 (Act 792), which carries not more than 30 years' imprisonment and whipping not fewer than six strokes of the rotan.

The accused was also charged with sexually assaulting the victim at the same place and time, under Section 14(a) of the same Act, which is read together with Section 16(1) of the Act, and carries a maximum 20-year jail and whipping upon conviction.

In the fourth charge, the man is accused of possessing a pendrive containing illicit videos and pictures of the victim at a house near Taman Nusantara in Iskandar Puteri at around 9pm on May 24 this year.

He was charged under Section 10 of the same Act, which carries a maximum five-year jail or a fine up to RM10,000 or both upon conviction.

Mabel Sheela imposed bail at RM8,000 for all charges against the accused along with additional conditions such as prohibiting him from disturbing the victim and witnesses, handing over his passport to the court and reporting to the police station once a month.

She also set July 24 for the next mention of the case.

Deputy public prosecutor Nor Fadilah Johanuddin prosecuted while lawyer Baharudin Baharim represented the accused.

It is learnt that the accused will face similar charges involving the same victim in Pahang, Kuala Lumpur and Kedah.